Greater White-fronted Goose

Breeding across the tundra from Nunavut to Siberia, across Russia, and in Greenland, the Greater White-fronted Goose has one of the largest ranges of any species of goose in the world. In North America, however, it is common only west of the Mississippi River, where it is found in large flocks in wetlands and croplands.

Greater White-fronted Goose

Adult

Greater White-fronted Goose

Adult with Cackling Goose

Similar Species

The least distinctively marked of American geese. Most likely to be confused with domestic goose. Various breeds of domestic geese may have a white line behind bill, overall gray body, and orange bill and feet. Domestics lack the black belly markings, and have thicker necks and bigger bellies.

Blue form of Snow Goose has all white head and white in the wings. Juvenile is blue-gray not brownish, and has a white, not black tail.

The Graylag Goose is quite similar to Greater White-fronted Goose. Wild Graylag Geese are extremely rare in North America, but their domestic form is common in farms and other settled areas. Bird watchers can report these separately from wild geese in eBird, where they're listed as "Graylag Goose (domestic)". The Graylag Goose has a bigger bill, appears heavy overall, and typically has a drooping deep belly. Domestic individuals are sometimes mottled
with white.